Film Review: Cloverfield

Director: Matt Reeves

Cloverfield was also produced by J.J. Abrams who has shown before his abilities in this genre of film making. The film is presented in the found footage style and is all filmed with a hand held camera which can make you feel quite nauseous, especially if you watch it lying down like I did. It was originally marketed as being called '01-18-08' before the final name was decided and has become a cult favourite with fans. There is a sneaker trailer available for a sequel but no news as to when it will be released or indeed what the film will be called.

Cloverfield - The monster attacks Manhattan

The film follows six young people from New York who are throwing a going away party for Rob (Michael Stahl-David) who is moving to Japan (surely a reference to Godzilla) with work. The party continues with the drama ensuing about Rob having slept with previously platonic friend Beth (Odette Yustman) and not wanting his current girlfriend Lily (Jessica Lucas) to find out but then the city is rocked by what seems like a massive earthquake. The friends rush out of the building to see what looks like a massive hand smashing its way through a building, the friends decide they need to escape Manhattan before the monster destroys everything.

The ensuing chaos is brilliantly produced and gives you just long enough inbetween to catch your breath, it is an intense and exhilirating ride. It could possibly be viewed as a post 9/11 story due to the nature of what happens and the location but obviously the film isn't going to say that itself. It is one of the more original found footage films and is boosted by good performances by the cast especially lead actor Michael Stahl-David who acts like any normal man would rather than some super hero.

Rob Hawkins (Michael Stahl-David) and Beth MakIntyre (Odette Yustman) hide from the monster

My main criticism is the fact you see close up what the monster looks like and this takes away a lot of the tension and intrigue about what the monster is like. It is certainly scarier when you have little idea what it is. J.J. Abrams said the idea came about in a Japanese toy shop for the monster and that he was inspired by the movie poster for Escape from New York which showed the severed head of the Statue of Liberty crashed in the street. Ever since many people have had theories about the monster being two different monsters due to the difference in looks at different points in the film and where it came from, the only clue I would say is at the end when we see footage on the ferris wheel. WATCH THE SKIES!

3/4 amateur footage and real characters add to the tension and scare factor